Armored garment



April 17, 1945. WATTS 2,373,726

ARMORED GARMENT Filed Aug. 14, 1942 INVEN TOR.

4902 .21 F ZZZZ S,

AITD RNEYS Patented Apr. 17, 1945 UNl'lED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARMORED GARMENT George L. Watts, Flint, Mich.

Application August 14, 1942, Serial No. 454,848

6 Claims.

My invention relates to armor and has among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved bulletproof garment.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of a garment illustrating my invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary face view of an armor sheet.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2 with certain parts illustrated in elevation.

Figure 4 is a sectional detail vie illustrating the manner in which the armor sheet is attached to the garment.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a ball frame, and Figure 6 is a perspective view of a companion frame member.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration, I make use of steel balls supported in steel frames I2. All the frames are identical in construction.

In Figures and 6 the frame 52 comprises an outer frame section M and an inner frame section I6. An opening or recess I8 is formed in the frame section it to partly house the ball ID. This ball is held in place by the frame section M, the latter having an opening 20 contoured to receive the ball H! but to prevent the ball from dropping out of the frame section. Rivets 22 fixedly secure the frame sections l4 and I6 in face to face engagement and connect the two sections as a unitary frame rotatably supporting the ball l0.

. Both frame sections l4 and I6 are square when viewed according to Figures 5 and 6, with the frame section l4 provided with two ears 24 projecting beyond each edge face. In Figure 2, the frames l2 are arranged in vertical rows 26 and transverse or horizontal rows 28. The frames l2 in each row are pivotally connected together by pins 30 extending through the overlapping cars 24 in that row. Thus the sheet armor of Figure 2 may bend along parallel lines, half of which run in one direction and the other half at right angles thereto. A rotary sleeve 32 is mounted on each pin 30.

The sheet of Figure 2 is anchored to the garment 3 4 by the rivets 22, which rivets are provided with flanges 36 engaging the garment. The rivets are extended through openings in the garment and riveted at 38 over washers all so that the garment is securely clamped between the washers and the flanges. The flanges are preferably countersunk in the frame sections 12 so as to provide a smooth garment engaging surface.

Both the balls l0 and the sleeves 32 are rotatably supported so as to deflect bullets. All the parts are formed of strong material. The garment 34 may be covered throughout its exterior surface to afford complete protection. Coats, vests and trousers may be provided with the protective armor. The balls H], frames [2, pins 30 and sleeves 32 are made of bullet-resisting steel, preferably the kind employed in the manufacture of armor plate.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain my invention, that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

1. A bulletproof sheet comprising a plurality of pivotally connected frames, ball elements rotatably supported by said frames, and rotary cylindrical bodies carried by said frames and alternately arranged between said ball elements said balls, frames and cylindrical bodies being made of bullet-resisting steel.

2. A bulletproof sheet adapted to be worn as armor on the person comprising frames, ball elements rotatably supported by said frames and having surfaces projecting beyond one face of the respective frames, pin means pivotally connecting said frames, and rotary sleeves mounted on said pin means, said balls, frames, pins and sleeves being made of bullet-resisting steel.

3. The invention described in claim 1 wherein said frames each comprises a first frame section and a second frame section fixedly secured thereto, said frame sections being provided with openings coop erating to provide'a recess rotatably supporting the ball element associated with that frame.

4. The invention described in claim 2 wherein said frames each comprises a first frame section and a second frame section fixedly secured thereto, said frame section being provided with openings cooperating to provide a recess rotatably supporting the ball element associated with that frame.

5. The invention described in claim 1 wherein each of said frames comprises two sections provided with openings cooperating rotatably enclose the greater portion of the spherical surface of their respective ball elements.

6. A bulletproof sheet adapted to be worn as body armor comprising a plurality of ball elements and cylindrical elements, means rotatably supporting said ball elements, and means pivotally connecting said first mentioned means and rotatably supporting said cylindrical elements, said ball and cylindrical elements and said means being made of bullet-resisting steel.

GEORGE L. WATTS. 

